What are the best Wayland compositors?

Question

44

Options
Considered

300

User
Recs.

Sep 20, 2021

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

The Best 1 of 39 OptionsWhy?

Best Wayland compositors	Price	Programming Language	License
92 Sway	-	C	MIT
-- Weston	-	C	MIT
-- KWin	-	C++	GPL
-- Wayfire	-	C++	MIT
-- Qtile	-	Python	-

See Full List

38 Other Options Considered

KWin

Top Pro

Highly configurable

KWin has a very configurable environment. Just about any option that you would like to adjust will be available in the settings. See More

Top Con

Unstable

Though, now it is much more stable, than in first versions. See More

CromulentVesta's Experience

Développement is extremely slow See More

Specs

Programming Language:C++

Top Pro

Changeable window borders, effects

Top Con

Dependent on some KDE libraries

This makes stand-alone KWin somewhat inconvenient to set up. See More

Top Pro

QT window decorations support

KWin define QT programs windows decorations. See More

Top Con

Some effects such as present windows are slow and jerky

Some of KWins effects can be a bit slow or jerky, resulting in an uneven fluidness. See More

Top Pro

Offers desktop workflow

In an age where everyone seems to be moving to touch interfaces, KDE remains one of the last DEs that still caters for desktop users. See More

Top Pro

Can be configured to be similar enough to Windows so it makes life easier for fresh converts

While kwin is far more powerful, it can be configured to be similar enough to Windows - for people who just changed operating systems and don't really want to learn something new, it works great See More

Top Pro

Integrated compositing manager

KWin has built-in compositing with options on how it performs that can be changed by the user in the settings. See More

Top Pro

Beautiful interface

KWin has an assortment of attractive desktop effects, creating a rather beautiful interface. See More

Top Pro

Window effects

KWin offers an assortment of window effects, such as wobbly windows and window shadows/glow. See More

Top Pro

Effortless VSync

VSyncing with NVIDIA blobs can be tricky (the dreaded tearing) but with KWin, video and OpenGL games display flawlessly. See More

Top Pro

NVIDIA EGL Stream support

It can work on NVIDIA video cards with proprietary drivers. See More

See All

Wayfire

Top Pro

Plugin approach

The usage of a plugin system allows for a lot of customisability. See More

Top Con

No window buttons

Window buttons are provided by the decoration plugin in the latest version. See More

KindKhonsu's Experience

Awesome See More

Specs

Programming Language:C++

Top Pro

Nice blur feature

The blur plugin makes this compositor look nice. See More

CreativeBoann's Experience

Solid compositor, responsive community. See More

Top Pro

Fastest compositor with earth.google.com/web

ResoluteBaoshengDadi's Experience

Fairly lightweight considering the extensive customisation options, and a lot of eye candy. The documentation is very clear as well. See More

See All

Qtile

Top Pro

Interactive

The commands you use in the Qshell (built in shell for interacting with the window manager) has an intuitive filesystem-like feeling, while staying so close to Python syntax you can basically paste it into your config file. And the best part, if you don't like Qshell, just use Your shell. qtile-cmd exposes all of Qtile's functionality to the console. See More

Top Con

Doesn't handle errors well

As Qtile uses python, it crashes upon errors instead of handling it gracefully ( like in awesomwm). See More

Specs

Programming Language:Python

Type:Tiling/Dynamic

Top Pro

Hackable ecosystem

With easy writing your own widgets or extensions, hooks you can make it powerful integrated system. Dmenu friendly environment. Easy scriptable even with bash by qtile-cmd. Nice keybinding cheet sheet generator See More

Top Pro

Extensible

It's easy to write your own layouts, widgets, and built-in commands. See More

See All

Enlightenment

Top Pro

Beautiful interface

Enlightenment offers a beautiful interface with eye candy: it can be themed easily to the user's liking and includes an optional compositor. See More

Top Con

Not many themes for enlightenment

... and most of them are not really beautiful. For example, a Dark-One on e16 has a simple and clean look and is really beautiful (if you like dark themes). See More

Specs

Programming Language:C

License:BSD

Type:stacking, tiling

Decorations:SSD

See All Specs

Top Pro

Virtual desktop previews

Enlightenment allows for virtual desktop previews within its desktop widget for switching desktops within its thumbnails. See More

Top Con

Backlight and bluetooth can be hard to set up

There seem to be issues with some DRM laptops. See More

Top Pro

Fast and good with battery life

Great for laptops. See More

Top Con

Unstable

Top Pro

Minimal hardware requirements

Top Con

Non-tiling

Overlaps and spaces between windows are both pointless. See More

Top Pro

Nothing in the last 20 years beats e16

It's fast, doesn't use much resources, is highly customizable and is rock solid (I cannot remember it crashing). It's combination of simplicity and beauty is unmatched. The default theme on e16 is kinda disappointing. Try B-42 or Dark-One. Be careful if you enable Composite. It works flawless, but you can screw your menus when playing around with the transparent settings in the settings menu. Making a backup-copy of your .e16 preferences beforehand might save you some trouble. See More

Top Pro

Lightning fast

Startup of e is lightning fast -- as it is during working with the WM. See More

Top Pro

Easy on ressources

Doesn't use much RAM and doesn't hog your CPU. See More

Top Pro

No programming experience required to configure the environment

Configuring the environment of Enlightenment is done through a UI, so no prior knowledge of coding languages or editing of config files is needed. See More

Top Pro

Quick mouse-driven menus

Enlightenments menu is easily and quickly accessible by left-clicking anywhere on the desktop. See More

Top Pro

Lots of themes available

There is a large selection of themes available for the Enlightenment window manager, meaning that customization to one's preference is very straight-forward. See More

See All

dwl

Top Pro

Dynamic, like DWM

Specs

Programming Language:C

Phoc

Add Video or Image

Simula

Programming Language:Haskell, GDScript

Taiwins

Programming Language:C

License:GPL-2.0

Type:Tiling, stacking

Decorations:SSD

See All Specs

japokwm

Top Pro

You don't rely on layouts given by the developer

Specs

Programming Language:C

License: BSD-2-Clause

Type:Tiling

Decorations:SSD

See All Specs

RoseQuartz

Programming Language:Zig

License:BSD 3-Clause

Type:Stacking

Compositor Library:wlroots

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score 87 · Accepted Answer

Sway

Top Pro

Uses WLROOTS

Wayland compositor building library focused on standards. Best one around. See More

Top Con

Sway does not guarantee support for NVIDIA drivers

It works for the most of configurations, but it is not guaranteed; Those who use Sway on NVIDIA do not get any technical support. Even further, requirement to run Sway with "--my-next-gpu-wont-be-nvidia" is rather humiliating. See More

cosmo's Experience

Sway comes packed with everything I need and expect as a previous i3 user, also including screen locking and taskbars by default! It's a truly lovely experience. See More

Specs

Programming Language:C

Top Pro

Simplicity and configurability

Everything is plain and simple, and you get to configure and script almost anything. See More

Top Con

Tiling

Windows use the entire screenspace, multiple windows can have odd dimensions cramping text or content. See More

HarmoniousJievaras's Experience

Sway is incompatible with most of graphic cards (Nvidia). it requires to use nouveau (parody of driver) or AMD/intel graphics (parody of graphic card) See More

Top Pro

Tiling

Its interface does not consume a lot of screen space. See More

RealisticProphasis's Experience

Intuitive and sane. It's the first tiling WM I've put serious time into, and mostly it just works. Configuration is a snap thanks to the extensive man pages and the well-commented default config file. Instant config reloads mean you can see the results of your edits immediately. Only downside is imperfect NVidia support but that's their fault, buy AMD. See More

Top Pro

Compatible with the i3 window manager

Is designed as a wayland rework of the i3 window manager and a lot of the config options for i3 work with Sway. See More

Top Pro

Supports gaps

Just like i3-gaps, Sway supports gaps between windows. See More

Top Pro

Status bars through built-in Swaybar

Sway comes with information bars built-in through its Swaybar feature. It can be easily configured to show time, weather, notifications, and more, just like i3bar and i3status. See More

Top Pro

Screen locking through built-in Swaylock

Sway can lock the screen after you've been away for awhile or on demand with a key binding. This feature, called Swaylock, comes built-in and functions similarly to i3lock. See More

See All

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The Best 1 of 39 OptionsWhy?

My Recommendation for Sway

My Recommendation for Sway

Uses WLROOTS

Sway does not guarantee support for NVIDIA drivers

Simplicity and configurability

Tiling

Tiling

Compatible with the i3 window manager

Supports gaps

Status bars through built-in Swaybar

Screen locking through built-in Swaylock

38 Other Options Considered

My Recommendation for Weston

My Recommendation for Weston

Absolutely very lightweight

Nearly impossible to manipulate windows programmatically.

Simple

Fast

Stable

My Recommendation for KWin

My Recommendation for KWin

Highly configurable

Unstable

Changeable window borders, effects

Dependent on some KDE libraries

QT window decorations support

Some effects such as present windows are slow and jerky

Offers desktop workflow

Can be configured to be similar enough to Windows so it makes life easier for fresh converts

Integrated compositing manager

Beautiful interface

Window effects

Effortless VSync

NVIDIA EGL Stream support

My Recommendation for Wayfire

My Recommendation for Wayfire

Plugin approach

No window buttons

Nice blur feature

Fastest compositor with earth.google.com/web

My Recommendation for Qtile

My Recommendation for Qtile

Interactive

Doesn't handle errors well

Hackable ecosystem

Extensible

My Recommendation for Enlightenment

My Recommendation for Enlightenment

Beautiful interface

Not many themes for enlightenment

Virtual desktop previews

Backlight and bluetooth can be hard to set up

Fast and good with battery life

Unstable

Minimal hardware requirements

Non-tiling

Nothing in the last 20 years beats e16

Lightning fast

Easy on ressources

No programming experience required to configure the environment

Quick mouse-driven menus

Lots of themes available

My Recommendation for river

My Recommendation for river

early development state

dynamic tiling

My Recommendation for Hikari

My Recommendation for Hikari

Stacking/Tiling hybrid view management

Keyboard oriented

View marks

UCL configuration

Arbitrary view grouping

Modal interface

Configurable tiling capability

Minimalistic Look & Feel

My Recommendation for swvkc

My Recommendation for swvkc

Fast